This week I was extremely excited to attend the London Book Fair and take part in Kobo’s writing life panel at Author HQ to speak about my debut book ‘Rotten to the Core’, and it’s success last year as the U.K’s most completed novel.

Public speaking is normally way out of my comfort zone, but on this occasion I was really honoured to take part in the panel, alongside the very lovely Joanne Grant, Harlequin’s senior editor, and Kobo Writing Life’s Diego Marano. Our talk was on “Keeping the reader engaged to the end of a novel.”

I met up with some fab authors, such as Pete Sortwell, Mel Sherratt, Victoria Connelly, Louise Voss and Mark Edwards…

Managed to catch a few rays in Hyde park with the bestie (#freeagent)…

and even bumped into a pirate… as you do!!!

Ending the evening over at The Commander Bar in Notting Hill, where my lovely publishers, Thomas and Mercer hosted a cocktails and canapé party.

I just came across this article, and after speaking to a few authors this week I just had to share…

Never give up:

There are qualities that every published author shares: first, they wanted to give it all up. Second, they didn’t give it all up. Writing a book is one of the most difficult tasks in life. Fortunately, or maybe because it’s so difficult, it is also one of the most rewarding tasks in life. When you feel like you can’t type another word, can’t re-read another draft, and can’t face another rejection, remember that every author goes through these phases. It’s only the successful ones who never give up.